Out-of-state tuition and fees for ESU’s School of Business were $14,594 in 2010-11, more than $5,000 below the average of $19,832 for the 10 programs on the least-expensive list. By contrast, ESU’s tuition and fees were less than one-third of the $50,189 charged at the most expensive school for out-of-state tuition. The 10 most expensive programs averaged $43,488, according to 2010-11 figures.

Scholarships in ESU’s School of Business help make a degree even more affordable. In 2010-11, ESU business students averaged $1,449 in scholarship awards.

“In this economic environment, we are proud that we can offer a top-quality educational experience at a value that empowers students to improve their lives and secure their future,” said Dr. James Williams, vice-president of academic affairs at ESU.

ESU’s School of Business offers a master of business administration degree along with undergraduate and graduate degrees in seven programs — accounting, information systems, business administration, business education, finance, management and marketing.

The school is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate School of Business (AACSB-International), a designation held by less than 5 percent of business schools worldwide. It also is home to the Center for Business and Economic Development, the Kansas Small Business Development Center, the Center for Insurance Education and the Kansas Business Hall of Fame.

Students enjoy undergraduate classes that average 26 students and graduate courses that average 19 students, taught by a total of 30 faculty members, all of whom have doctorate or master’s degrees. After earning their degrees, more than 97 percent of graduates are placed in jobs within six to nine months after graduation.

To develop the lists of business schools, U.S. News surveyed more than 400 schools. Schools self-reported a myriad of data regarding their academic programs and the makeup of their student body, among other areas, making U.S. News' data the most accurate and detailed collection of college facts and figures of its kind.

Emporia State University began in 1863 as an exemplary teachers education college two years after Kansas became a state and soon blossomed into a comprehensive regional university known for its rich tradition of excellence.

Today, the university offers more than 65 academic areas of study that lead to bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees and certificate programs in four colleges. It is known for empowering Kansans to better their lives through small classes in a caring but rigorous academic environment.

The university was named a first-tier regional university in the 2011 U.S. News and World Report’s “Best Colleges.”